Coach Chesswick
Hi iridiumalt! 📈 Quick Progress Snapshot
• Current rapid range: 1050-1070.
• Personal best (rapid): 1205 (2024-07-25) .
• Activity peaks: see
What You’re Doing Well 👍
- Initiative-seeking style – you frequently push the game into sharp positions (e.g. the 5.f4 Bird mate vs Bandits-M).
- Basic tactical vision – when an opponent blunders, you usually spot the tactic quickly (16.Qxg7# vs Emmanuel_ChessLasker and 21.Qxh7# vs Bandits-M).
- Solid “classical” openings with 1.e4 – in the Scotch/Four Knights you develop smoothly and castle early.
Biggest Improvement Targets 🚧
- Blunder Checks (pre-move scan)
In recent losses (vs rick125s, Dame704) pieces hung on move 19…Bxa1 and 11…Nd4. Train 5-10 daily puzzles focused on “hanging piece & fork” themes – they directly cut blunders by forcing a final tactics scan. - Opening Discipline with Bird’s 1.f4
Your Bird score is negative while 1.e4 scores well. If you love 1.f4, study one main line (Dutch-style with …d5 …g6) and stick to the structure; otherwise park Bird for a month and concentrate on 1.e4 where you already know plans. - King Safety Before Attack
In several defeats you launched flank play while king was still in the centre (Bird losses, Scotch vs dimasssster). Adopt the “three-step rule”: center pawn, minor piece, king to safety before starting pawn storms. - Endgame Technique
Long loss vs MarkoD77 reached a knight ending you could draw. Add 2 basic endings/week (K&P, minor-piece) to your study list; they convert many equal positions into wins.
Opening Menu 🍽️ (90-day plan)
| Colour | Keep | Simplify/Drop |
|---|---|---|
| White | Scotch, Four Knights | Bird until tactics improve |
| Black | 1…e5 vs 1.e4 (Italian, Four Knights), 1…d5 vs 1.d4 (simple QGD setup) | Early …Nc6 vs Bird – study only after White repertoire set |
Model Game to Re-visit
Your cleanest tactical win – review the critical moments and ask, “why was it winning? how to repeat?”
Practical Training Routine ⏱️
- ⏰ Daily: 15 min tactics → 1 10-min game → 5 min post-game notes (what did I overlook?).
- 📚 Weekly: pick one master game in your chosen opening and annotate main ideas (not moves).
- ♟️ Endgame Friday: play “pawn-only” and “king+knight vs pawns” drills vs engine set to 800-1000.
Short-Term SMART Goals ✅
- Reduce average “pieces lost per game” from 1.8 to <1.0 by July.
- Reach 1100 rapid with only 1.e4 as White before re-introducing Bird.
- Finish 150 tactical puzzles (rated 800-1200) in the next 30 days.
Keep the fighting spirit – tighten the basics and your sharp style will shine even brighter. Good luck and enjoy every move!